CPT Lakeysia Harvin

Capt. Lakeysia Harvin talks about background/experience - reasons why she joined JAG Corps (opportunity to work in many different areas of the law, oldest law firms and describing her rewarding experience during the 9/11 event (1st hand exp...

Starting Strong Trailer

CPT Lakeysia Harvin

Capt. Lakeysia Harvin talks about background/experience - reasons why she joined JAG Corps (opportunity to work in many different areas of the law, oldest law firms and describing her rewarding experience during the 9/11 event (1st hand exp...

I am Captain Lakeysia Harvin. I went to the University of Florida Law School, and I joined the JAG Corps because of the opportunity–the opportunity to work in many different areas of the law.

I was so intrigued by all the different areas of law that you can work with. One of the things I found very exciting is that it is one of the oldest law firms. It has so many different areas of the law that you can go into, and coming out of law school you can hit the ground running in any area of the law.

My most rewarding experience in the JAG Corps was on Sept. 11th.

On Sept. 11th I was stationed at Fort Hood. And I can remember being in the JAG office when we got the word that the planes had flown into the towers. On that day–it just put everything into context for you. When you get words like that you are concerned about what to do, what things should happen, you have commanders calling, Soldiers calling just wondering about rules of engagement–just things of that nature. So I saw from a first hand experience how critical legal was in providing timely, accurate, but a quick response to what was going on.

The biggest advantage would be the network that you have with other attorneys. It doesn't matter whether you are stationed at Fort Knox or Fort McPherson, I can call up and get advice or assistance from attorneys anywhere in the JAG Corps. Even though we may be competitive, on different sides if we are in trials, or whatever, at the end of the day we know we are all Soldiers and we know that we have the opportunity to help one another. There has never been a time, that I've experience, where I have called someone and they haven't come through or provided an answer, or helped, or assisted–whatever my mission has been.